History of the Dr. Parkin House In the early part of the nineteenth century, in the period immediately following the Napoleonic wars, there was a great scarcity of iron and other valuable metals in Britian and the colonies; so when iron ore was discovered in and around Blairton, plans were at once made by those in authority to have it mined, smelted and put into use. Money for this object was advanced by monied interests in Montreal and also by interested parties in England. Smelters and furnaces were located on the east side of the Crowe River in Marmora, just below the rapids. The names of the men in charge or those interested in this industry are in common use, as the street names - McGill, Hayes, Cameron, Bursthall and possibly Forsyth. Like all mining ventures it had its ups and downs, its busy periods and times of idleness. One of the first managers decided to build a manager's house. They had aquired much land and selected a large lot - Number 4 at the end of Main Street, south of Madoc Street, on the east side of the river. There they built a large square log house, perhaps 30 feet by 20 feet or even larger dimensions. To square those logs, dove-tail the corners and build such a place must have been a job for many good axe-men and carpenters. The roof was framed, as it is described, not just put on as the usual rafters are; the boards that covered it were clear pine and many inches wide without knots. The shingles were hand made from cedar. The house faced the river and along the front was a wide verandah. The front door opened into a wide hall with rooms on each side, long stairs led to the upper storey. The window panes were small, and there were 24 in each window. Four fireplaces helped to heft the rooms. The outside was finished with clapboards. The furniture was brought in from Montreal by boat to Belleville. The best obtainable was none too good, some was clear mahogany, some walnut and some the new veneer finish just coming into use then. Some of these pieces are still in use in Marmora. The furnaces and foundry finally fell idle and the house was used as a hotel changing hands frequently as to management, but in the early 1850's it was owned by Mrs. Margaret Brady. A large frame addition had been built by some owner with two large rooms, the entrance to them being from Forsythe Street. Along the South Side of the lot ran extensive sheds and barns. Much of the business was with lumberman, teamsters and loggers. Oxen and horses were the only means of transportation, and there were three or four hotels in Marmora to accommodate the men travelling to the woods for Gilmour or Rathbun Companies or other firms.
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